Aspiring heart surgeon Lavinia Woodward, 24, punched Thomas Fairclough and swiped at him with a bread knife during a heated row.

She then stabbed the Cambridge-educated boyfriend in the leg before hurling a laptop, glass and a jam jar at him at iconic Christ Church college, Oxford.

NC

PROMISING: Lavinia Woodward was studying to be a heart surgeon

Woodward admitted a charge of unlawful wounding at Oxford Crown Court and Judge Ian Pringle said the offence would normally mean a custodial sentence.

But he then delayed sentencing for a period of four months and hinted she won't be jailed – because of her “extraordinary” talent.

NC

EXTRAORDINARY: Lavinia Woodward is said to have extraordinary talents

Naked university rowers release 2017 calendar

Oar-some students have stripped off and bared all for a good cause once again

1 / 8

“To prevent this extraordinary able young lady from following her long-held desire would be too severe”

Judge Ian Pringle

The court was told her college will allow her to return to the college in October because she “is that bright”, with articles published in medical journals.

Judge Pringle said jailing her could be unfair – because it could affect her career.

He said: “It seems to me that if this was a one-off, a complete one-off, to prevent this extraordinary able young lady from not following her long-held desire to enter the profession she wishes to, would be a sentence which would be too severe.

“What you did will never, I know, leave you but it was pretty awful, and normally it would attract a custodial sentence, whether it is immediate or suspended.”

NC

ABROAD: Lavinia Woodward is living in Italy at the momentRelated Articles